Egypt, UNESCO Strengthen Partnership to Protect Cultural Heritage

On Thursday, Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, held a meeting with Nuria Sanz, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo, at the Ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital.

The meeting aims to enhance cooperation in safeguarding Egypt’s cultural heritage and archaeological sites.

Also present at the meeting were Gamal Mostafa, Head of the Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and Ambassador Khaled Tharwat, the Minister’s Advisor for International Relations and Supervisor of the Ministry’s International Relations and Agreements Department.

Minister Fathy welcomed Dr. Sanz and her accompanying delegation, commending the strong partnership between the Ministry and the UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo. He reaffirmed that the preservation of cultural heritage is a national priority, highlighting Egypt’s ongoing efforts in the restoration and development of archaeological sites and museums to enhance visitor experiences while protecting historical assets.

The Minister also presented key strategic projects currently underway, notably the development corridor extending from Sphinx International Airport to Saqqara. He emphasized that the project aims to preserve the historical and architectural identity of the area per UNESCO standards, while promoting sustainable development and delivering benefits to surrounding local communities.

Dr. Sanz expressed UNESCO’s readiness to provide technical advice and support to the Ministry in the field of heritage conservation. She praised Egypt’s restoration efforts at the endangered Abu Mena archaeological site in Alexandria, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.